The Banner of Christ Newsletter

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.   Psalm 60:4                  Vol. I, Issue I              MAY 2006

Christians have always been challenged to honor the Lord with their lives. It is an inherent part of their personal testimony.  Our lives are on display when we name Christ as Lord and King and seek to exemplify Him from day to day.   People watch Christians, wondering if they are for “real” in their endeavor to live for the Lord.

The Christian Taekwondo Fellowship has a commitment to teach Taekwondo in such a way as to honor God.  We are martial artists, but our first goal is always to develop in our lives spiritually, then mentally, and also physically.  Part of this development centers around loyalty to Christ, to friends and family.  Without loyalty we would not be able to maintain our testimony, and our spiritual lives would falter.  “To thy own self be true” is a phrase we hear often in the world, but the reality is, “To Christ be true.” 

This month’s newsletter focuses around power (physical and spiritual), Integrity (the power to live out truth in our lives), and loyalty (the power to maintain  continuity in our relationships.

Dr. McCain (The Development of Power)
Mrs. Barbara McCain (Telling The Truth)
Ms. Schwartz (Loyalty and Integrity)

THE NATURE OF POWER by Dr. McCain

            Every student has a level of power, which may be developed.  The new student generally does not understand the level of that power.  The mathematical formula of ½ (MV²) is not comprehended at the beginning stage of training.  Regardless of the level of power and their personal understanding of how much power they possess, each student has a level of power which may not only be measured, but may also grow. 

Our power level at the beginning of our training in Taekwondo is vastly different than the potential power, which can be achieved after training (nor is it the same as the inherent power they have not yet perceived).  As the student develops higher levels of power, they must be taught the proper use of that power. 

            This concept of power should include: a proper attitude of respect, knowledge that power should be handled wisely, and how to achieve greater control of that power.  We must find a balance between the power achieved and the proper use of that power.  The power to destroy or build a person’s life is at the center of this concept.  

How far should I go before taking drastic, life-changing steps to stop an opponent?  How does my ego affect the use of power?  Students have begun their training, and were physically powerful by virtue of their size and age.  Some physically powerful students were not able to achieve the balance between the power they possessed and the control of that power during class time and sparring.  Several students were physically gifted.  However, they were unable to make the adjustments and could not learn the proper use of that power.

            Some martial arts schools take a “kill and maim” approach to training, while others take a less aggressive or non-aggressive approach.  Which is correct?  It is obvious that all martial arts are inherently dangerous and effective.  Then, what is the purpose of power?  I believe that with great power, comes great responsibility.  As a police officer, I was taught the progressive use of power.  I was taught to never escalate to the highest level of power (taking a life), without having a reason warranting lethal force.  We were taught to use appropriate force.  Why kill a fly with the power that would be used to break five boards?  I was always taught to do what was necessary to control the situation, not to be injured, and to be prepared to carry the use of power to its next level, when it was required.  My original Karate instructor taught with the mind set of devastation from the onset of any aggression.  He believed and taught the “old school” approach.   The methodology for our teaching, and the philosophy of power derived from that method, are partly based upon our approach and attitude toward life. 

As a Christian, I wish to take a responsible approach to the use of power, but still reserve the right to use that power for personal protection or the defense of others.   In other words, in my life I have determined that this developed power has set guidelines, established by my personal philosophy. 

THE EXPLOSIVE NATURE OF POWER: The explosive nature of power is not completely realized by the new student.  New students generally have difficulty with lead hand front stance punch.  They most often perform the punch as a reach, moving the punching hand at the same speed as the rear leg steps forward to a front stance.  They must be taught to hold the punch until the lead foot is nearly touching the floor, and then punch (the implementation of matched timing).  The loaded position for the punch from point A (the chambered position) to point B (the ending point of the punch) should be accomplished in the shortest possible time.  It is obvious that the shorter the time frame from point A to point B (increased speed), the more power is developed at the end of the technique.   Even as this idea is grasped, it is still easy to fall into the habit of moving the attacking hand or blocking hand toward point B, prior to actually attempting the movement.  In other words, there is movement forward (as an example, about 1/3 of the distance) prior to the student actually beginning the fast motion toward the target area, thus effectively eliminating the rapidity of the movement (without interruption) from A to B in the shortest time possible.

            It is my position that we should explode from point A (the load or chambered position) from the very onset of the movement, and not stop this movement until we have fully reached the ending point of the movement (target).  The goal of every movement within any given pattern should involve this principle.  Although a certain level of power can be achieved performing any movement (whether hand or foot technique), it is certain that more power can be achieved when we explode through the movement, thus increasing the speed from point A to point B.  For each movement there is a correct “load” position, and a correct ending point (target position). The greatest care should be taken to have the same loading position and the same ending point (including direction of movement) for each movement. 

This allows our mind to “measure” the distance each time we perform that particular movement.  Over time, we are able to measure the distance between ourselves, and a sparring opponent, as well as the distance to the wood when performing a break.  As we strive to accomplish this task, we gain confidence in the movement and become aware of the power and distance involved with that movement.  When we “marry” the concepts of exploding through the movement, matched timing, and confidence, into one cohesive unit, the result is greater and more efficiently controlled power.  These concepts of the explosive nature of power may be applied to either hand or foot techniques. 

AGING AND POWER: In all the Mid-California Tae Kwon Do schools, I am the oldest student.  This distinction has allowed me to develop a perspective of power that is not fully understood by the younger students.  The old phrase “Wisdom will win over youth” may or may not be true in some instances.  I have noticed that as we age and mature, our power increases in many areas of life, but becomes subtle in nature.   Our movements achieve a greater dimension as we mature.  We may not be able to perform the movements with the same flexibility or jump as high as we once did.  I make mention of this after listening to interviews with Chuck Norris (now in his sixties) and Jackie Chan.  Each of these great athletes now has student doubles performing several of the movements, which, when they were younger, they were able to perform themselves without injury.  

We must be careful not to use age as an excuse, but we must be mindful of the changes in our body, which necessitate wisdom when we are performing our patterns or sparring.  For myself, several hand movements have become stronger over the years, while some movements have diminished in powerful.  Although I train using those movements, and strive for improvement, injury and age is a factor. 

The process of change provides the older martial artist with the opportunity to be humbled and to grow spiritually in several areas.  As we observe the teens and young adults perform floor exercises or patterns, we may think, “I used to do that.”  Conversely, when we perform in front of our students, they may be saying to themselves, “I hope to achieve the level of power and ease of movement as my instructor some day.”   The younger student desires to match the grace and ease of movement, coupled with a mysterious “power” they cannot comprehend at their age. 

As an older student, we should begin to see the development of our spiritual lives as more important than our physical development.  We should not stop training, but this realization is critical to our continued growth as a person.  To continue training will enhance the true development of the art in our lives.

The aging martial artist has much to offer the younger students. Continued training through injuries and the trials of life provides an impetus to other students to persevere and not to quit.  Matt is a member of the church that I pastor.  Matt has shifted in recent years from using a cane to needing a walker.  Although he suffers from degenerative arthritis (30 years, which is quite remarkable), he never gives up. At the age of 7 he was still mowing yards and would stay on his knees weeding the garden for hours.  When others are home with a cold, Matt rolls into church and maintains a high level of dignity.  Matt is now 85years old and his 5’ 0” thin frame is atrophying, but his indomitable spirit keeps him walking into the building each week.  I have always admired this man.  His level of manhood is one I hope to achieve some day.   I often think to myself, “If Matt can continue on through this daily pain and difficulty, I can keep moving forward in my life.”  His personal strength does not reside in his stature or personal physical strength, but in his inner life as a man.

The key in our training as “more mature” martial artists is to continue training spiritually, mentally and physically, and grow in our understanding of movement and technique, develop subtle power, and, then, pass that information on to the next generation of students.  This principle is taught in the Bible, where the Apostle Paul wrote, Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:1-3)   

Loyalty, by Ms. Schwartz

The American Heritage Dictionary defines loyalty as (1) the state or quality of being loyal or (2) the feeling or attitude of devoted attachment and affection.

It was with some surprise that in the etymology of the word “loyal” I found that it has its roots in the Latin legalis, legal, by way of Old French and Middle French, leial. Skeat’s Etymological Dictionary, Harper & Brothers, 1882, directs a search for “loyal” to the word “legal”. The root of the word is the Latin lex meaning law. The Rev. Dr. Walter Skeat further elucidates: “The literal sense is ‘that which lies,’ that which is fixed; compare the Greek keitai nomoV, the law is fixed.”

When we consider “law” in the biblical sense our first thought is that of Moses receiving the ten commandments, that they are God’s directions for us written in stone. Thus we obtain a graphic sense of the permanence of His word and the unchanging nature of God.

A friend who is loyal is just as permanent. “That which is fixed” is the knowledge that our friend is there, through good times and bad. Though allegiances shuffle and shift with the current fashion, the heart of a loyal friend remains steadfast.

A true friend is not one who always agrees with all we say and do. One who is sincerely loyal will point out when he sees we might be headed the wrong way, or there might be a better way to look at a situation, a kinder way to express oneself, or a better course of action. In spite of the obvious, that we are human and flawed, our loyal friend, also human, believes in us, encourages us, stays with us, gives all that is in him to help us be successful and honest.

Such friends are extremely rare. If we are wise we keep faith with them and hold their trust in us dear to our heart, and take care that we do not violate it.

Proverbs 18:24 reminds us that A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Jesus has told us that He will never leave nor forsake us. His love for us is boundless, His resources, endless. Besides all this, it is His desire that we should count on Him for all our needs, material, emotional, spiritual.

And here is a most interesting etymological/theological paradox. The law, given by God is holy, perfect, and utterly impossible of being kept by men. The only One ever to keep it the law perfectly, is He Who has promised with His life that His love for us is not subject to our merit, nor changing circumstances, nor any other created thing.

Herein is the “legalism” of loyalty shown as immutable, that which is fixed. It is by God’s grace, through Jesus Christ, and promised by His word, and not by our keeping of the law, by which we are saved and have life.   End

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